Remember to pray for Camp La Vida during the Season of Prayer for State Missions and Janie Chapman Offering from Monday, September 7 through Friday, September 14.  Monies designated for the Janie Chapman Offering keep the gates open at Camp La Vida, where young lives are changed.

According to one camper, Ashley, Camp La Vida is “like a little piece of treasure in my heart that helps me grow into the woman I’m going to be.” 

Another camper named Jordan writes, “Camp La Vida is where you think about your life and what God wants for you to do.  An example is that I wanted to play pro-softball for the US softball Olympic team, but I haven’t played in a while, and I think that it means that that is not what God wants for me to do.”  

This summer, more than 150 campers accepted Christ as their Savior, and 97 campers accepted calls to missions.  Those numbers are not unique to this summer—La Vida consistently proves to be a place where children and teens experience spiritual growth.

Since its founding in 1983, Camp La Vida has registered more than 50,000 campers, and 2,251 of those made professions of faith.  Campers at Camp La Vida also understand the importance of giving to missions as over the past 20 years, campers have given more than $56,000 through the Cooperative Program.

“Our goal is that all who attend Camp La Vida will have fun as well as be challenged in their missions involvement—their praying, giving, and doing,” Cindy Skelton, Camp La Vida director, said. 

Program guests each summer include state and associational missions representatives as well as missionaries serving with the North American and the International Mission Boards.  The Camp La Vida staff is made up of college-aged Christian women who serve as unit leaders, cabin leaders, assistant cabin leaders, lifeguards, or recreation leaders.  Christian men and women serve as camp staff for Children in Action and Youth on Mission camps, also held at Camp La Vida.

      Camp La Vida offers a variety of activities such as archery, pottery, adventure recreation, outdoor living skills, swimming, and canoeing.  La Vida offers week-long camps, minicamps, and mother/daughter overnights for children and youth in 1st –12th grades.

      The summer is definitely the busiest time of year at Camp La Vida, but the camp is also open during the rest of the year, and available for conferences, retreats, and other gatherings.  On Friday and Saturday, October 17 and 18 at Camp La Vida, current and past staff members from Camp La Vida and Camp Rawls--which preceded La Vida and was housed in Wagener, SC--will celebrate La Vida’s 20th anniversary.